Mood Walks Advisory Committee Meeting #1

Supporting People who Experience Mental Health IssuesTuesday May 13, 20142 4 pm

Lets hear from you!Your name and organization you representSite you are working with as part of Mood Walks (if applicable)What interested you about this webinar?How would you describe your level of awareness about mental health issues?Any specific questions for today?How this Webinar AroseNeed for education and support around mental health issues for partners from Conservation Ontario and Hike Ontario in order to participate in Mood WalksI am wondering how we would be able to assist if participants in Mood Walks were to have issues while participating on one of our hikes, and what the implications would be.Having not participated in programs associated with mental health issues in the past our agency would want to ensure that a high level of training is provided to our staff and volunteers in order to provide a safe, secure and accessible environment for all participants.3Objectives for Todays SessionProvide an introduction to mental health Hear an individual account of a personal experience with mental health issuesDiscuss common mental health myths and stigmaProvide some general guidelines for supporting people who experience mental health issuesShare resources for future learning about mental health Spark discussion and answer questions! Guest Speaker:Krista GrearLived Experience and Recovery Network (LERN)livedexperience.org

LERNsAnti-Stigma Campaign

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LERNs Anti-Stigma Campaign

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Lets talk about the

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Mood Disorders Society of Canada: Third Edition, Quick Facts: Mental Illness & Addiction In CanadaFacts from Canada:You have a 1 in 5 chance of having a mental illness in your lifetime.Facts from the World:2020 is the year that it is predicted that depression will be the leading cause of disability in the world.9

Im talking about mental illness and the stigma that is associated with it

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Facts About Different Types of Mental Illness:DEPRESSION7.9-8.6% of Canadians will experience depression in their lifetime.Mood Disorders Society of Canada: Third Edition, Quick Facts: Mental Illness & Addiction In CanadaBIPOLAR DISORDER1% of Canadians will suffer from Bipolar Disorder in their lifetime.ANXIETY DISORDER9% of men and 16% of women will suffer from an Anxiety Disorder in any given year.SCHIZOPHRENIA1% of people in Canada have Schizophrenia.

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Facts About Stigma:46% believe that a diagnosis of mental illness is merely an excuse for poor behavior and personal failings

42% would no longer socialize with a friend diagnosed with mental illness

50% would not tell friends or coworkers that a family member was suffering from mental illness.

Canadian Medical Association. (2008, August). Eighth Annual National Report Card on Health Care. 12

Lets start talking about mental illness so that we are comfortable talking about it

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Stigma affects all of us who are affected with mental illness, yet mental illness is never really talked about so Stigma continues and is growing

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The Lived Experience & Recovery Network is facing this Elephant head on and challenging communities to talk about

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Until now, Stigma the Elephant has been invisible

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Now you can see the Elephant in the Room!

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We want to talk about our Mental Illness, we can help you understand Mental Illness better so that we shrink Stigma, we get Freedom, we can Recover but first we need to know it is safe to do so.

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This small blue Elephant is our power symbol and we want you to have it.

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Join us in talking about mental illness, reduce Stigma and free us from judgment and hurt, and support us in freedom and recovery

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Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higherSee the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud.

As Knaans song saysIn the streets our heads are lifting as we lose our inhibition,Celebration it surrounds us, every nation, all around usSinging forever young, singing songs underneath the sun.Let's rejoice in the beautiful game.And together at the end of the day.When I get older I will be stronger. They'll call me freedom.Just like a wavin' flag.21

Put Stigma the Elephant out where others can see it. It will indicate that you are willing to talk about mental illness, that you will listen, that you will see the person with mental illness as a person and not an illness, that we matter.

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By adopting a little blue elephant and making it visible, it indicates that its OK to talk about mental illness, mine, theirs or someone elses and there wont be any retribution, there wont be judgment, there will be complete confidentiality.

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Face the Elephant in the Room, the Elephant in our Community and lift the burden of Stigma and wave your Freedom and Recovery Flag

I will be stronger.Theyll call me freedom.So wave your flag Now wave your flagNow wave your flagNow wave your flagNow wave your flagWhen I get older I will be stronger.Theyll call me freedom just like a waving flagNow wave your flagNow wave your flag24

Be a Champion to Stigma and give us Freedom Lets eliminate the Elephant in the Room, and replace it with a waving flag of Freedom.

Everybody will be singin it.And we are all singin it.25What is Mental Illness?A health problem that affects the way we think about ourselves, relate to others, and interact with the world around usAffect thoughts, feelings, abilities and behaviours Depression and anxiety disorders most commonTend to be episodicMix of periods of being well and productive, and periods of being unwell with lower overall functioning Source: Understanding Mental Illness, CMHAMyths about Mental IllnessMental illnesses arent real illnesses.Mental illnesses are just an excuse for poor behaviour.Bad parenting causes mental illnesses.People with mental illnesses are violent and dangerous.People dont recover from mental illnesses.People who experience mental illnesses are weak and cant handle stress.People who experience mental illnesses cant work.

Source: Myths about Mental Illness, CMHA How Could Mental Illness Impact Ones Life?Can cause challenges in all areas of life:Changes in mood, concentration, thought patternsSchool and work performanceRelationships and social inclusionConfidence and self-imagePhysical health

What Happens When Someone Has a Mental Health Challenge?

Mental health problems effect people differently. People might experience: Feelings of depression, or anxiety and fearfulnessLoss of appetite or overeating Alcohol or drug usage to numb feelingsLoss of touch with realityHearing voices, seeing things that aren't there, or believing things that aren't trueThoughts of suicide and suicidal behaviour Feelings of anger and aggression

Source: Introduction to Mental Health 101, CAMHThe Impact of StigmaMental health historically not talked aboutLack of awareness and understandingMedia distortion of people who experience mental health issues Portrayed as aggressive, dangerous, and unpredictableIn reality = more likely to be victimized than to perpetrate Stigma often a barrier for people to seek treatmentStigma can limit opportunities for employment, housing and education; cause loss of family and friendsSources:Stigma and Mental Health Issues, CMHA DurhamStigma, Mental Health Commission of CanadaHow to Reduce the Impact of StigmaUse appropriate language Person-first language: A person who experiences schizophrenia, as opposed to a schizophrenicAvoid terms like psycho or crazyContact-based education Get to know people who experience mental health issuesShare your own experience, if you feel comfortable doing so

Supporting People who Experience Mental Health IssuesTreat the person as the unique individual that they arePerson-first: No need to focus on mental health issues!Present yourself as an empathic, respectful, non-judgmental listenerListen with full attentionAllow people to discuss their experiences with mental health issues with you if they choose to do soAvoid advice-giving! Discuss any concerns or reservations with your mental health agency partnerFor More Information.camh.ca Online Mental Health and Addiction 101 Seriesmentalhealthfirstaid.ca 12-hour training course about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, provide initial help, guide a person towards appropriate professional helpcmha.caMental health brochuresmooddisorderscanada.caElephant in the Room anti-stigma campaignPat DeeganAmerican disability-rights advocate, psychologist and researcher who has written about her experiences in the mental health systemEnabling Minds ProjectAn initiative of CMHA, Ontario, in partnership with Parks and Recreation Ontario and YMCA OntarioMental health accessibility training for anyone who works in the field of sports, fitness or recreationHow to remove barriers to physical activity programs for people with mental health disabilitiesHow to create a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes positive mental healthConsists of a 45 minute e-learning module and a companion resource for managersSign up at enablingminds.ca to be notified when training is launched!Questions?Comments?Wrapping UpThanks for your participation!Let us know what you thought!moodwalks@gmail.com

Wavin' Flag (The Celebration Remix)K'naanWavin' Flag, track 112010World213720.8spa - www.ramifede.blogspot.com